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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
13 stolen cars seized in Cebu
By Mia E. Abellana
CEBU CITY -- Thirteen vehicles that were reportedly stolen in Manila were seized by a joint police team from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Regional Intelligence Division in a raid Monday night in Cebu City.
Armed with a search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 104 Judge Thelma Ponferrada, the operatives led by Superintendent Alex Centin and Inspector Angelo Nicolas took into custody Joseph Burt Cañete of Compound 888, Riveridge Subdivision, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.
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Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas Director Ronald Roderos declined to make a statement on the raid, saying the operatives were still conducting follow-up operations.
However, 13 vehicles were brought to the PRO-Central Visayas grounds and the Regional Crime Laboratory was requested for macro-etching.
The seized vehicles include two Hyundai Starex vans, a Mitsubishi Lancer, a Nissan Sentra, a Mistubishi Adventure, a Nissan Urvan, a Toyota Revo, an Isuzu Crosswind, a Mitsubishi L300 EB van, a Toyota Hi-ace van, a Toyota Fortuner, an Isuzu Hilander, and a Mistubishi Delica.
The request for macro-etching was signed by Nicolas under the QCPD Intelligence Operation Unit, Anti-Carnapping Section.
Using the engine and chassis numbers, this process allows authorities to verify if a vehicle is stolen or if its papers are falsified.
While the warrant was being served, two lawyers representing Cañete reportedly complained that the arrest was illegal because he was allegedly picked up at 4 a.m.
Lawyers Rufe Paul Lagronio and Joel Luis Wee had a confrontation with operatives. Police challenged them to just get the names of the operatives and file charges.
According to a report aired over GMA 7's Balitang Bisdak, the operation had the endorsement of PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. No less than Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte paid for the operatives' expenses in Cebu.
Car theft cases in Quezon City have become so rampant that at least one case gets reported each day.
The TV news crew got footage of Cañete being handcuffed past 7 p.m. Monday.
Five operatives from the QCPD are in Cebu for the operation.
The last carnapping case was that of Starex van. A civilian asset saw the van being carried onto a ship headed for Cebu.
Operatives reportedly took footage of the van and followed it all the way to Cebu until they reached the Cañete Compound in Purok Kalubihan, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.
This prompted them to immediately apply for a search warrant.
After the vehicles were seized, the authorities began checking with the Land Transportation Office the plate numbers of the vehicles and learned that these were issued for other vehicles.
The Mitsubishi Lancer's plate number (XDX 384) was actually issued to a Toyota Revo.
Police who searched Cañete's Toyota Fortuner also reportedly recovered a loaded .45 pistol. The GMA 7 report stated that he had yet to present documents allowing him to possess the firearm. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (July 30, 2008 issue)
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